- By proving the driver's physical or mentalfitness are appreciably impaired by alcohol,drugs or a combination of both; or- By proving the driver's blood alcoholconcentration is 0.08 percent or more.

DWI laws

• Allow enforcement agencies to set up roadblocks to check for impaired drivers;• Prohibit drivers from consuming any alcoholicbeverage, including beer, while driving;• Prohibit the transport of an open container ofany alcoholic beverage, including in thepassenger area of the car;• Prohibit the possession of alcoholic beverages(open or closed) in the passenger area of acommercial motor vehicle while upon anyhighway, street or public vehicular area;• Provide for different levels of severityof punishment based on the severity ofthe offense;• Require persons who are convicted of DWIfor the second time to serve a jail sentence;• Attempt to punish DWI offenders, butalso try to help them deal with problemsthey may have with alcohol;• Require that repeat DWI offenders orpersons with high BACs be checked tosee if they have an alcohol problem;• Require persons with lower BACs toattend alcohol safety schools; and• Require anyone convicted of DWI to obtain asubstance abuse assessment prior to the

Types of DWI convictions

First convictionSecond convictionThird convictionFourth conviction

First conviction

Mandatory revocation of your driver license for a period of one year.

Second conviction

Mandatory driver license revocation for a period of four years when convicted of a prior offense which occurred within three years of the current offense for which the license is being revoked.

Third conviction

Mandatory, permanent driver license revocation if at least one of the prior convictions occurred within the past five years.

Fourth conviction

Mandatory permanent driver license revocation. The fourth conviction is considered a felony if the three prior DWI convictions occurred within the past seven years.

BAC Restrictions

- BAC restrictions are required when a license is restored following a suspension for DWI- 1st restoration: 0.04 percent - 2nd or more: 0.00 percent - BAC restriction of 0.00 percent if : • driving commercial motor vehicle, • driving after consuming alcohol or drugs whileunder the age of 21 or • felony death by vehicle

one-year driver license revocation

• Any underage person who tries topurchase or purchases alcohol for themselves or another person • Any underage person who obtains orattempts to obtain alcoholic beverages byusing a fake ID• Any person who permits his or her driverlicense or any other ID to be used by anunderage person to purchase or attemptto purchase an alcoholic beverage.

!! If a driver who is less than 21 years old isconvicted for an offense of driving with anyamount of alcohol or drugs in his/her body, his/her license will be revoked for one year.

Driver License Points

If you accumulate as many as 12 points within a three-year period, your license may besuspended.

2nd Suspension

accumulation of eight points within three years following the reinstatement ofyour license

Suspension times

• 60 days for the first suspension;• 6 months for the second; and• 12 months for the third.

Five Point Value for Offenses

Passing a stopped school busAggressive driving

Four Point Value for Offenses

• Reckless driving • Hit and run, property damage only • Following too closely• Driving on wrong side of road• Illegal passing• Failure to yield right of way to pedestrian pursuant to G.S. 20-158 (b) (2) b.• Failure to yield right of way to bicycle, motor scooter or motorcycle

Three Point Value for Offenses

• Running through stop sign • Speeding in excess of 55 mph • Failure to yield right of way • Running through red light • No driver license or license expired more than one year • Failure to stop for siren • Driving through safety zone • No liability insurance • Failure to report accident where such report is required • Speeding in a school zone in excess of the posted school zone speed limit

Two Point Value for Offenses

• Failure to properly restrain a child in a restraint or seat belt • All other moving violations

One Point Value for Offenses

Littering pursuant to G.S. 14-399 when the littering involves the use of a motor vehicle

• Reckless driving • Hit and run, property damage only • Following too closely • Driving on wrong side of road • Illegal passing • Failure to yield right of way to pedestrian pursuant to G.S. 20-158 (b) (2) b. • Failure to yield right of way to bicycle,motor scooter or motorcycle

Four Point Value for Offenses (Commercial Vehicle)

• Running through stop sign • Speeding in excess of 55 miles per hour • Failure to yield right of way • Running through red light • No driver license or license expired more than one year • Failure to stop for siren • Driving through safety zone • No liability insurance • Failure to report accident where such report is required • Speeding in a school zone in excess of the posted school zone speed limit• Possessing alcoholic beverage in the passengerarea of a commercial motor vehicle

Three Point Value for Offenses (Commercial Vehicle)

Point Value for Offenses (Commercial Vehicle)

One Point Value for Offenses (Commercial Vehicle)

Littering

30 day revocation

Driving any vehicle more than 15 miles per hour over the speed limit if you are driving at a speed higher than 55 mph.

60 day revocation

• A second charge of speeding over 55 mph and more than 15 mph above the speed limit within one year• Speeding plus reckless driving on the same occasion

Suspensions

• Two convictions of speeding over 55 mph within a period of 12 months• One conviction of speeding over 55 mph and one conviction of reckless driving within a year• A conviction of willful racing with another motor vehicle, whether it is prearranged or unplanned• A suspended court sentence or part of asentence mandating that you must not operate a motor vehicle for a specified period of time; and/or• A conviction for speeding over 75 mph.

Time Suspensions

• Manslaughter 1 year• Death by vehicle 1 year• Manslaughter while under the influence of an impairing substance Permanent• Assault with a motor vehicle 1 year• Failure to stop and give aid wheninvolved in an accident 1 year

Driving conditions

Influenced by physical and mental health

Driving drowsy

Silent Killer Who is at risk: young people, adults with young children, shift workers, people with sleep disorders

Sleep

- 5hours of sleep the night before -> 4-5 times more likely to crash than someone who got a full 8 hours of rest.

Ways to prevent drowsy sleeping

• At least 6 hours of sleep before a trip • Stop, pull over to a safe place and take anap - if you can't switch drivers • Travel at times when you are normally awake• Travel with an awake passenger who can keep a conversation going• Take a break every two hours or every 100miles• Drink a caffeinated beverage and wait about30 minutes

Types of distractions

Physical, Mental and Combination

Physical Distractions

Distractions that cause the driver to take his or her hands off the wheel or eyes off the road such as tuning a radio or dialing a cell phone.

Mental Distractions

Activities that take the driver's mind off the road such as having a conversation or thinking about an emotional event.

Combination

Some activities take your hands, eyes and mind off the task at hand such as reading a map while driving.

Dealing with Cell Phones

• Texting/e-mailing while driving is illegal • Use your cell phone only if it is absolutely necessary; at a safe time and place• Ask a passenger to speak for you

Alcohol facts

• About 38 percent of all traffic fatalities involve alcohol.• Alcohol will first affect your judgement— you may think you can drive safely when you cannot.• The amount of alcohol in a one-ounce shot of whiskey, five-ounce glass of wine and 12-ounce bottle of beer is the same.• Black coffee, fresh air and cold showers DO NOT help someone to become more sober — only time will help.

• Never drive faster than the speed limit or at a speed that is unreasonable or unwise given the existing conditions.• Allow a safe distance between you and thevehicle in front of you (the "two-second rule").• The faster you are moving, the farther aheadyou must be able to see to allow enoughdistance for stopping.

1. Slow down before you enter the curve so that you will not need to brake while you are in the curve;2. Gradually increase your speed to maintain the traction necessary for good control of the vehicle as you round the curve;3. If you must brake in the curve, apply the brakesgradually until you are sure it is safe to keepcontinuous pressure on the brake pedal;4. Begin to turn the vehicle just prior to the point where the road begins to turn; and5. Stay on your side of the road and drive as far to the right as you can.

Curve While Traveling Downhill

1. Consider the pull of gravity;2. Shift to a lower gear before moving downhill; and3. Begin to brake earlier and approach the curve more slowly than you would on a level roadway.

Driving on the left-hand side

- On one-way streets - While passing

Adjusting Speed to Driving Conditions

- The speed at which you drive determines the distance required to stop your vehicle.- Stopping distance also depends on your reaction time- Stopping distances are longer at higher speeds because a vehicle travels farther during the driver's reaction time, and it takes more braking distance to come to a full stop.- If you are traveling 55 miles per hour your vehicle requires aprx. 211 feet to stop completely- Each additional mile traveled per hour reduces the driver's ability to control the vehicle

Pedestrians

- Always yield right of way to pedestrians- No traffic signals: pedestrians have the right of way if they are in marked crosswalks- Ordinary traffic signals: pedestrians must obey thesame signals- Green light: pedestrians have the right of way over all vehicles- Yellow or red: drivers must allow the pedestrianto complete the crossing safely- The law requires drivers to use the horn whenever a pedestrian may be affected by a turn, stop or start from a parked position.

- Divided highway of four lanes or more with a median separation- Roadway of four lanes or more with a center turning lane

Emergency and Law Enforcement Vehicles

- Drive to the right-hand curb or edge of the road and stop completely- Remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed - Does not apply to four lane highways -

When stopped by enforcement vehicles

- dual-lane highway, ALWAYS pull to the right and off the travel portion of the highway- On a highway, a driver should pull his vehicle onto the most feasible- remain seated in the vehicle and place the vehicle in the "parked" position shoulder of the highway in a safe manner- Activate the vehicle's hazard lights- Place both hands on the steering wheel

Don't - When stopped by enforcement vehicles

- Do not move around in the vehicle,- Reach under the seats or enter the glove box or center console - Do not exit the vehicle

Traffic signals

Used to control traffic and pedestrians at some intersections and crosswalks

Circular green signal

- Means GO - left turning traffic is "unprotected"- must yield the right of way to oncoming traffic

Circular yellow signal

- "caution"- The signal is about to turn red- Stop for a yellow signal unless you are too close to the intersection to stop safely

Steady red circular

- "STOP."- a right turn can be made after coming to a complete stop unless there is a "NO TURNON RED,"- Failure to yield: penalty of not more than $500 and not less than $100

Green arrow signal

- you have a "protected" turning movement with no other conflicting traffic

Red arrow signal

- Turning traffic must stop

Arrow signal + circular signal

- turning traffic is controlled by the arrowsignals and- through traffic is controlled by the circular signals

Malfunctioned traffic light

- Approach to the intersection as if there were a stop sign

Red Flashing Signals

stop and do not proceed to move until you can enter the intersection withoutinterfering with approaching traffic.

Orange Flashing Signals

Slow down and proceed with caution

Three types of signs

- Regulatory - Warning Signs- Guide/Informational Signs

STOP sign

- Octagon- White STOP on red background- Posted six to 50 feet from the intersection.- A vehicle must stop at an intersection

Yield Sign

- Triangular shaped with the point at the bottom- Red and white sign with YIELD in the middle- Drivers must slow down and yield the right of way- Must stop if there is a lot of traffic

Other regulatory signs

- Rectangular and square-shaped signs- Black and white or red and white- They might have a message